Friday in DuPont Circle

I worked my little mobile phone today to chat to those friends whom we won't have time to visit this trip and to confirm dates with those whom we will meet.

Then I walked over the hill to the National Zoo. I had planned to drop by the path lab where I volunteered but there is an automated gate that shuts out people as well as cars. So I walked through the zoo instead (not something that I had time to do when I worked there). I stopped by the panda enclosure to get a photo to use next year on our 30th anniversary. The day we got married we went to see the pandas at Taronga zoo who were visiting from DC. They hid behind a rock. Today they hid inside, out of view.

But the clouded leopard slept on a hammock.

The lions on the Kalorama bridge posed more majestically.

Tonight we ate like locals at the Lebanese Taverna with Fadia but I forgot to take a photo.

Jet lag cure

We got up at 4am yesterday to catch the first plane out (no delays) to Toronto and then to Washington. And last night I slept straight through. Maybe this is the cure for jet lag!

Or perhaps it was the early dinner with Janet a and Fred Stollnitz and Joyce and Don Kiester with lots of chat and no wine. Janet and Fred are off to China on Monday.

Our current hotel is not far from the best yarn store in DC. I bought some souvenir skeins.

Mouthing mannequins in Montreal

Spring was almost a wash out here in Montreal but it was warm and sunny today. There are still tulips in bloom.

We had a lovely lunch at a Portuese restaurant with Judy and David. 

And we visited the Musee des Beaux Artes to see the Chagall exhibition.

It was terrific. . . rooms full of paintings with luminous colours and exciting surfaces. I have never quite got Chagall but was most impressed by his collected works. In his 80's he painted a mural of the ceiling of the Opera House in Paris . . .  afeat that would have daunted a much younger man. He designed lots of costumes that Judy wasn't impressed by but I know how different things look on stage and up close.

That was evident in the Paul Gautier exhibition of wedding gowns downstairs. . . some of which were almost shoddily made (I spotted a tacking thread left on the lapel of one outfit) there were models arranged on a tired "wedding cake" those on the second tear had a minaret faces which moved their lips, eyebrows, opened their eyes, etc in a mesmerising way. None of the outfits were white. They ranged from grey to cream to flesh colour but probably looked white on the runway. Interesting.

To Montreal

Yesterday we staggered around Arlington trying to fit our brains back into our heads.

It was Memorial Day, a public holiday for most but most larger shops were open (except for Costco). We found DSW, a huge shoe shop that has everything out so you can try on multiple sizes without harassing the sales folk. I got myself a new pair of walking shoes. We both looked for tennis shoes without luck. In one store I was offered children's tennis shoes because they didn't have any lady tennis shoes!

Jo needs a new suitcase so I had too much time to kill in Nordstrom Rack (their discount branch). I couldn't resist a pure cotton sweat shirt reduced from $48 to $7.85. It wasn't until we got back to the hotel that I realised it has horizontal stripes. . . . the Avalon uniform.

We had dinner with Jean Christenson, on her birthday, and her daughter Masha. Jean is working tirelessly to get democrats back into power.

This morning we fly to Montreal from National airport which we haven't used for years. . . .it is across the river from DC. It has been dressed up with a transparent shell that looks like a long, paper wasp nest cut to show curves. Inside it is still the old straggle of 50's buildings with shiny Lino floors and rocking chairs pulled up to watch the aeroplanes. 

Arrived

We got to LA early so had to wait until Customs et al opened at 6am. A dozen other planes must have done the same thing so the lines were LONG. They have automated the system but you still have to talk to a person. The airport is being rebuilt, still. 

It was a fine day to fly cross country but I slept.

There has been lots of building here in ?Rosslyn and the Metro has almost reached Dulles. But as it is almost 30 years since we first arrived here, it should not be surprising.

Rosslyn from the Holiday Inn

Twas the night before

Tomorrow morning, at 5:40am the shuttle will take us to the airport for a quick trip to the US and Canada. I will try to remember how to blog with a new camera and an old iPad.

I have left behind my most recent foster cat who does not like being in the institution so behaves badly there and sprays indiscriminately. At home he behaved perfectly in that respect. I hope they give him the chance to survive until I return.

Beau

Indra's 80th

We went to Kuala Lumpur to join the Pathmanathans celebration of Indra's 80th birthday on Oct 29. We only stayed for 5 days (and was on a plane for 2 days.)
We stayed at the Novotel Hotel where the party was held so we could inspect the party planner's progress.

 There was line dancing, speeches and good food.

The next morning we had breakfast in the restaurant as well.

Tamra and Pat

Grace, Rohini, Indra

KL has some pockets that look like it used to do but there are high rise office blocks and apartment buildings everywhere. I spent some time by the hotel pool trying to get my head around the difference in scale and practicing the online class, Liz Steel's Buildings that I have just done.

from pool side

A vacant block next door except for one tree on a mound. . .. .. . . as seen from the 7th floor

other direction from pool side

But night time was for eating out with friends. First we went out with Abu Bakar, Aziz and Victor to a very swish fish place.

Then with Rosalingand Ti at the restaurant next door to the hotel because the traffic was just too horrible to go further afield.

Finally with Pat and Indra at the Lake Club.

It was a nice break and I came across a vlog that recommends a 7 day sabbatical every 7 weeks. . . . sounds good to me.